KOTA KINABALU – The government should stick to limiting people’s movement instead of being a moral police, said three Sabah opposition MPs, as breweries are told to cease operations during the total lockdown period.
Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin (DAP), Penampang MP Datuk Darell Leiking (Warisan) and Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau (Upko) in a joint statement said the federal government is practising double standards in allowing tobacco factories to remain open.
“We urge the government to allow alcohol factories and stores to operate under the same conditions imposed on the tobacco industry, with 60% capacity and shorter opening hours.
“Government policies have to be fair, consistent and comprehensible, failing which, the people will end up confused or have misconceptions that the government is oppressing minority rights, especially those of non-Muslims.”
The lawmakers said the reasoning that cigarettes are essential to accommodate those with addiction is confusing, as alcoholics also suffer from addiction and withdrawal symptoms.
“How do they even determine what is supposed to be essential? Is tobacco a sector on its own, or is it under manufacturing or food and beverages?
“If liquor is a kind of beverage, why should we subcategorise it? How can we categorise what drinks are essential? Are soft drinks essential?”
They said if the government’s intention is to reduce movement, there should not be a difference between breweries and tobacco factories.
The “sin tax” collected from the brewery industry, as well as cigarettes and tobacco products, can be put to public health uses, such as to combat Covid-19, they added.
They said the government collected RM3.94 billion in tax from tobacco products and RM2.27 billion in tax from the brewery industry in 2017.
“These are all ‘sin tax’ that greatly contribute to the development of the country.” – The Vibes, June 6, 2021
